Transport / Hopes that setting NorthLink fares should become ‘easier’ process
TRANSPORT Scotland has suggested the process around setting fares for the Northern Isles ferry service – which can delay future bookings being opened up – should become easier.
The government agency’s head of ferries Chris Wilcock said in recent years that fluctuations in consumer price index (CPI), from which inflation is measured, has made setting fares for the NorthLink ferries challenging.
Many islanders have expressed frustration about the time it has taken in recent years for longer-term forward bookings to become available on the ferry.
Transport Scotland has to wait until it has decided future fares before operator NorthLink can open up its bookings calendar further.
A few months ago it was confirmed that fares would increase by 10 per cent from January.
This came just nine months after the government increased fares by 8.7 per cent.
The price increases caused concern from local politicians, although it came after a fare freeze in 2023/24.
The matter of bookings was raised at a meeting of Shetland’s external transport forum on Tuesday by local MSP Beatrice Wishart.
She said forward bookings was an issue that constituents regularly raise with her, with a “cliff edge” created every year.
Wilcock said Transport Scotland recognised it has been difficult recently and explained ministers have been “heavily scrutinising” the CPI, which informs fare prices.
The CPI measures the changes in prices customers in the UK pay for good and services, such as fuel, food and clothing.
“As that starts to settle down I think that should become an easier process and should not take the length of time it has taken,” Wilcock said.
The meeting heard that usually Transport Scotland should be in a position to notify Serco NorthLink about fares in September or October, with the operator then able to open up bookings for around 15 months ahead.
One particular “cliff edge” occurred a couple of months ago when it took until late October for bookings to open up into the 2025 calendar year.
Wishart also questioned if there could be a rolling booking system where customers could make reservations far in advance under the knowledge that prices could change by the time the boat sails.
However, Wilcock said this would be “extremely challenging” to manage and unusual from a customer perspective.
At the moment bookings are open through to December 2025.
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